What this lesson teaches
I can judge how ASEAN responded to the Cold War in Southeast Asia, and why.
Syllabus 8838, Theme III, Learning Outcomes. evaluate ASEAN's responses to the development of the Cold War in Southeast Asia
Make a guess
ASEAN members decide only when all agree, and do not criticise each other in public. What do you think this achieved?
- Very little, because members could rarely agree on anything.
- Peace between members, but limits on what ASEAN could do.
- Fast, bold decisions on each regional problem.
Show the answer
Peace between members, but limits on what ASEAN could do.
No two members went to war during the Cold War, but consensus slowed action and avoided hard issues.
Consensus and non-interference kept ASEAN united and members at peace, but limited what it could achieve.
The ASEAN Way means deciding only when all agree, not criticising members in public, and not meddling in their internal affairs. It suited young, varied states that guarded their independence closely.
Its success was stability. No two ASEAN members went to war with each other during the Cold War, though several had serious quarrels. Regular meetings built trust among leaders.
Its weakness was doing too little. A 1981 CIA report said ASEAN's political successes rested on a weak base. Needing everyone to agree kept members united, but often meant nothing was done. Economic plans achieved little, because each state put its own interests first.
ASEAN also depended on outside powers. Members rejected a shared defence pact. They relied on the USA and others for security, while trying not to look too close to any superpower.
- ASEAN Way
- Consensus, quiet diplomacy, non-interference.
- No intra-ASEAN wars
- A key achievement during the Cold War.
- Security
- Members relied on outside powers, especially the USA.
Real examples to use
No war between members
Despite quarrels over Sabah, Cambodia policy and borders, no two ASEAN members fought a war with each other from 1967 to 1991.
Consensus over Cambodia
Thailand and Singapore wanted to isolate Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia feared China more (Kuantan, 1980), yet ASEAN kept one public position at the UN every year.
Limits of the PTA
The 1977 trade deal achieved little because each member protected its own industries, showing how consensus could mean inaction.
Worked example: A balanced judgement on ASEAN
How successful was ASEAN in building regional stability?
- Stability: no wars between members; disputes contained.
- Diplomacy: effective as a bloc on Cambodia.
- Limits: weak economic integration before 1992; reliance on outside powers.
- Judgement: successful in preventing conflict, limited in deeper integration.
Watch out for this
ASEAN's non-interference meant it did nothing.
Non-interference limited action inside members, but ASEAN acted effectively as a diplomatic bloc, as over Cambodia.
Check your understanding
What did a 1981 CIA assessment see as a weakness of ASEAN?
- ASEAN had grown too large to agree on policy.
- ASEAN was too ready to use force against its neighbours.
- Consensus decision-making led to inaction, especially in economics.
Show the answer
Consensus decision-making led to inaction, especially in economics.
Right. Unity came at a cost.